Chennai, Feb 8 (NationPress) Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first against New Zealand in the fourth match of the T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan shocked New Zealand by winning by 84 runs in Guyana, thus securing their spot in the semi-finals, while New Zealand faced an unexpected early elimination. This matchup has sparked considerable excitement, especially with Group D being dubbed the 'group of death' alongside South Africa, where every match outcome is pivotal.

New Zealand aims to recover from their recent 4-1 T20I series defeat to India, which raised red flags over player injuries and illnesses. However, their past experience in India might aid their adjustment to the conditions, and with a robust batting lineup complemented by skilled fast bowlers, they are anticipated to pose a formidable challenge.

Conversely, Afghanistan steps into the match with a surge of confidence, having clinched six consecutive victories before a defeat against the West Indies. Their spin-dominant bowling attack, likely to excel in conducive conditions, gives them a notable advantage, positioning them as potential favorites for this encounter.

Upon winning the toss, Afghan captain Rashid Khan stated, 'We will bat first. It's our first game, and with a fresh pitch, we aim to post a strong total, as I believe our spinners will find support later. We possess a wealth of experience and have players who've competed worldwide, and we are fully prepared for this challenge. My fellow spinners, Mujeeb and Nabi, will play crucial roles, but we also have three capable pacers. We need to perform well with the bat to set the stage for our bowlers.'

Meanwhile, New Zealand's skipper Mitchell Santner commented, 'We considered the conditions; there is some grass here, but not much in Chennai. We just completed a series against India and have traveled extensively across the country before settling in Mumbai, and it's great to see everyone fit again - we had some struggles with our personnel. Players like Ish Sodhi, Bracewell, Conway, and Jamieson are absent.'

Playing XIs:

Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy